1 Corinthians 15:12-20 Selected Verses – The Risen Christ, Our Hope
12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. 14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. 15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. 16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!………
20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep [died].
Do you believe Christ was raised from the dead? I do! That is one of the basic tenants of the Christian faith. There is a greeting on Easter Morning of “He is risen indeed.” I serve a Risen Lord. I see myself as an Easter Christian. Many focus on Good Friday (Strange name for the day of death of our Lord) and cannot see the blessings to come. It may be called Good Friday because of all the good God worked for us in the death and resurrection of the Lord.
I know many bad things happened that lead to the death of Jesus. But my focus is beyond the death to the resurrection. I am an optimist. I always look for the good in every situation. Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I don’t intend to stop there. My Lord calls me to go through the valley, as He did, to the table He has prepared for me on the other side.
Are you walking? Will you continue through the valley? Do you see the table set before you? You have to look through your eyes of faith to see this table. If you look carefully, you will see Jesus at the head of the table and there is a place card with your name on it a few places away from Him. Do you want to sit on His right or His left? Look again. You will see Him beckoning for you to come, sit by Him. Go ahead! He has saved that place just for you. He is risen and waits for you!
Lord thank you that You are risen and offer us a seat at Your table. It is incomprehensible that You would save that place for us. Thank You that Your love for us knows no bounds. Help us to hear Your voice and answer the call to come to You. In Your name we pray. Amen!